Machsupport Forum
G-Code, CAD, and CAM => G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions => Topic started by: pehder on May 14, 2018, 10:11:45 AM
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I am not sure if this is where i should post.
I am working on my friends simple plasma cutter. It was running fine until there was a power problem. My friend did not have a backup. How many times have we heard of that. He decided to try and fix it on his own. I could of done a recovery and had good success. As he worked through the problems he discovered that the previous owner of the plasma cutter had a hacked version of Mach3. Friend has since purchased a licensed version. Friend wiped the computer drive and reinstalled windows 7 and installed the newly acquired Mach3 software. We are moving in the right direction.
A quick description of his plasma cutter. It has some unknown Chinese brand stepper motors. X axis one motor, Y axis one motor and a slave motor on A axis, Z axis. Plasma Cutter is Hypertherm 65 with THC output.
I have Calibrated X, Y, Z and A. We are able to cut straight lines, cycle the plasma cutter. When I try cutting a radius, I get the error code "Radius to end of Arc differs from Radius to start". I am not sure what program my friend is using to drawn with but he is using Lazycam to develop his g code. I have searched these forms and have found many possible solutions, most regarding his general setups. I have have tried to do just one operation of cutting and that is a 1" bolt hole. Total lines of code perhaps 10 lines. I still get the error. When I change the IJ mode to absolute my slave axis A stops working other.
I will deeply indebted to any one that is able to point me to the right direction.
Thanks
Derk
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IJ mode is likely the problem. Or the g-code is just wrong.
And, IJ mode should have nothing at all to do with your A axis.
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Currently my IJ is set to Inc. Every time I change the IJ to Abs, as I mention in my first post the slave motor stops working. The slave motor is controlled by the A axis. When the IJ is set to Inc it errors out on gcode line that G2 the command for the radius.
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Gerry,
I have read that perhaps I need to include a G91.1 in my preamble. You can see my lack understanding regarding my G code skills. I will post the actual Gcode in an hour or so.
I'm still unclear as to why when I change IJ to abs my slave motor stops working, which is controlled by A axis.
I have for years been going to build a plasma cutter. If I state from scratch Mach3 or Mach4 serve my needs better?
Thanks
Derk
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G91.1 just forces Incremental IJ if Mach3 is in Absolute IJ mode.
Changing IJ mode should not stop the A motor from working, so I can't help you there.
And I've never used a plasma machine, so I don't know which is better.
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Could you point me in any direction for additional help?